Seaman Apprentice Lester Pagaduan, 19, joined the Navy less than a year ago, following the career path of a father he hardly knew. Romeo Pagaduan, who served 15 years in the same service, died of cancer when Lester was 2.

The Pagaduan household is one of thousands with a little extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The Ronald Reagan carrier strike group, which included the Chancellorsville, returned yesterday from a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

The Reagan glided into its pier at North Island Naval Air Station about 9 a.m., followed across the bay at San Diego Naval Base by the Chancellorsville, the frigate Thach and the destroyers Decatur and Gridley.

Another destroyer, the Howard, was delayed because of a mechanical problem and is expected home Friday.

The Chancellorsville provided air defense for the Reagan in the northern Arabian Sea as the aircraft carrier launched 1,150 combat sorties in Afghanistan, while the Decatur and Thach patrolled the Persian Gulf. The Gridley and Howard were part of a maritime task force set up to stop pirates off the Horn of Africa.

On its way to the Middle East, the strike group cut short a port visit in Hong Kong to speed to the Philippines after a typhoon struck the archipelago in late June. The ships anchored offshore for eight days as their helicopters airlifted more than a half-million pounds of water, rice and medical supplies to the stricken provinces.

“Everyone was champing at the bit to help,” said Capt. John Nolan, commander of the Chancellorsville.

After the long months at sea, the Chancellorsville sailors were just as eager yesterday to see the families they had left behind in May.

Farrah Almazon, 31, of Serra Mesa held aloft a yellow sign decorated with a smiley face. She hoped her husband, Jeff, would spot it quickly among the sea of placards.

“I heard it from a friend,” Almazon said. “If you do a big happy face, it's easier to see from the ship.”

“That's what I'm thankful for,” Almazon said. “It's the best Thanksgiving and Christmas present we could have.”

Bajene Carlley, 13, said the absence of her father, Andre Fishburne, had left a void in her family.

“It's been overwhelming, because we miss him a lot,” Bajene said. “We always laugh and have fun. We just haven't been able to do that since he's been gone.”

Perhaps no one could have been happier, though, than Annie Pagaduan. She and her brother, Jeff Gimutao – who retired in April as a master chief petty officer after 30 years in the Navy – cheered as Lester Pagaduan walked down the gangplank and handed his mother a bouquet of roses.

“Oh, I made it!” he said, beaming.

“We're very proud of the kid,” said Gimutao, 53, who went to sea nine times during his Navy career. “Very few kids have a chance to experience something like this before they're 20.”

Lester Pagaduan hugged his mom, his aunt and his uncle. He planned to visit his father's grave later in the day, just as he did before he left.

“It's nice knowing I'm following in my dad's footsteps,” he said. “I'm pretty sure he would have been really proud.”